Anglo-Saxon Gilt Bronze Great Square-Headed Brooch
6th century A.D.. Of Hines's Group XIII with running scrolls on the headplate surrounded by a border of beast-masks, deep bow with raised ribs, curved horse-head lappets and lateral lobes with facing masks, median panel of Style I ornament; remains of ferrous pin to the reverse and deep catch; some silver detailing; finial absent. Cf. Hines, J., A New Corpus of Anglo-Saxon Great Square-Headed Brooches, London, 1997, pl.42(a).
77.9 grams, 11.5 cm (4 1/2 in.).
Found near Thetford, Norfolk, UK, circa 2010. This brooch falls within Hines's Group XIII and shares many features with an example from Nassington, Northamptonshire. The headplate bears a raised rectangular frame (possibly silvered) separating the inner scroll motif from the outer band of animal-masks which are pierced along the inner edge; the lappets are also pierced at the point of junction with the footplate. The lateral lobes feature facing masks of a helmetted type similar to those featured on contemporary button brooches.